Published Wednesday, 05 December, 2007 at 04:04 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Tsunami survivors turn to Townsville expertise to rebuild industry
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries staff at a Townsville laboratory are helping to rebuild the livelihoods of tsunami survivors in the Indonesian province of Aceh.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said for the past month DPI&F’s Tropical and Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory at Oonoonba had hosted two fisheries scientists, Endah Soetanti and Islahuttamam.
Both scientists are from the Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Centre (BADC) Ujung Batee, of the Directorate General of Aquaculture of Indonesia, based in Aceh.
“Their coastal paradise was shattered by the tsunami on Boxing Day, 2004,” Mr Mulherin said.
“It destroyed the BADC facility and all the privately-owned aquaculture ponds that supplied the local population with prawns and fish.
“Seafood is an important part of the diet of Aceh residents. Because meat is consumed only on special occasions, fish is the everyday protein source for thousands of families.
“The redevelopment of a thriving aquaculture industry is the key to providing Aceh residents with an assured supply of seafood.’’
Before the tsunami the Indonesia Government had invested heavily in the facility, including the purchase of a diagnostic PCR machine.
So important was this machine to the work of the Aceh laboratory, when the tsunami waters hit, Islahuttamam risked his own life to retrieve it. He took it to higher ground but unfortunately it was too late and it was beyond repair.’
The damage to the diagnostic machine paled into insignificance when the waters receded and the surviving residents saw what was left of their shattered province.
Endah and Islah had lost nine of their co-workers and residential areas were just a mangled wreck of debris, cars upended, ponds destroyed, and cement slabs the only remains of offices and homes.
“It was important for the government to show the people that recovery was possible,” Endah explained through an interpreter.
“Two and a half months after the tsunami, BADC began the task of rebuilding the facility, beginning to clear away debris, as a sign that private aquaculture businesses could be re-established.”
With support from the Australian Government’s ACIAR fund, and the Crawford Foundation, DPI&F is assisting in the recovery effort by hosting the four-week visit by Endah Soetanti and Islahuttamam to the local laboratory facilities.
Dr Jane Oakey, a molecular biologist with DPI&F in Townsville, is the scientists’ key contact and has worked with Dr Mike Rimmer, a senior research fellow with the Aceh Aquaculture Rehabilitation Project to get the training program together.
Dr Oakey played an integral role in the recent development of accredited molecular biology laboratories at the Townsville site, and this expertise has been invaluable for the Aceh visitors.
“We have learnt so much from Jane, she has been patient and talked very slowly to us to make sure we understand, and she is very dedicated to her profession,” Endah says.
“We have learnt useful techniques that we can apply in our new laboratory, from diagnostics to quality control.”
Skills and knowledge are not the only attributes to return to Aceh. The molecular biology facilities in the new laboratory have been modelled on those in Townsville.
Dr Oakey said hosting the Aceh scientists forged greater links between industries in the two countries.
“It also ensures the developing aquaculture industry in Aceh will benefit from laboratory best practice, quality control and assurance.
“We have also received support from industry for the visit, with one Brisbane-based company, ProAqua, donating testing kits, worth thousands of dollars, for these training purposes.”
Media:
Minister’s office 32396530
DPI&F Andrea Corby 4722 2648
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said for the past month DPI&F’s Tropical and Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory at Oonoonba had hosted two fisheries scientists, Endah Soetanti and Islahuttamam.
Both scientists are from the Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Centre (BADC) Ujung Batee, of the Directorate General of Aquaculture of Indonesia, based in Aceh.
“Their coastal paradise was shattered by the tsunami on Boxing Day, 2004,” Mr Mulherin said.
“It destroyed the BADC facility and all the privately-owned aquaculture ponds that supplied the local population with prawns and fish.
“Seafood is an important part of the diet of Aceh residents. Because meat is consumed only on special occasions, fish is the everyday protein source for thousands of families.
“The redevelopment of a thriving aquaculture industry is the key to providing Aceh residents with an assured supply of seafood.’’
Before the tsunami the Indonesia Government had invested heavily in the facility, including the purchase of a diagnostic PCR machine.
So important was this machine to the work of the Aceh laboratory, when the tsunami waters hit, Islahuttamam risked his own life to retrieve it. He took it to higher ground but unfortunately it was too late and it was beyond repair.’
The damage to the diagnostic machine paled into insignificance when the waters receded and the surviving residents saw what was left of their shattered province.
Endah and Islah had lost nine of their co-workers and residential areas were just a mangled wreck of debris, cars upended, ponds destroyed, and cement slabs the only remains of offices and homes.
“It was important for the government to show the people that recovery was possible,” Endah explained through an interpreter.
“Two and a half months after the tsunami, BADC began the task of rebuilding the facility, beginning to clear away debris, as a sign that private aquaculture businesses could be re-established.”
With support from the Australian Government’s ACIAR fund, and the Crawford Foundation, DPI&F is assisting in the recovery effort by hosting the four-week visit by Endah Soetanti and Islahuttamam to the local laboratory facilities.
Dr Jane Oakey, a molecular biologist with DPI&F in Townsville, is the scientists’ key contact and has worked with Dr Mike Rimmer, a senior research fellow with the Aceh Aquaculture Rehabilitation Project to get the training program together.
Dr Oakey played an integral role in the recent development of accredited molecular biology laboratories at the Townsville site, and this expertise has been invaluable for the Aceh visitors.
“We have learnt so much from Jane, she has been patient and talked very slowly to us to make sure we understand, and she is very dedicated to her profession,” Endah says.
“We have learnt useful techniques that we can apply in our new laboratory, from diagnostics to quality control.”
Skills and knowledge are not the only attributes to return to Aceh. The molecular biology facilities in the new laboratory have been modelled on those in Townsville.
Dr Oakey said hosting the Aceh scientists forged greater links between industries in the two countries.
“It also ensures the developing aquaculture industry in Aceh will benefit from laboratory best practice, quality control and assurance.
“We have also received support from industry for the visit, with one Brisbane-based company, ProAqua, donating testing kits, worth thousands of dollars, for these training purposes.”
Media:
Minister’s office 32396530
DPI&F Andrea Corby 4722 2648